Celebrating World Alzheimer Scotland Day
#SDA15
Scotland’s Dementia Awards in partnership with Alzheimer Scotland, NHS Education for Scotland, NHS Health Scotland and Scottish Social Services Council; in celebration of World Alzheimer’s Day, provided an opportunity for professionals and communities, who are committed to enhancing the health, wellbeing and experience of people living with dementia and their families, to have their work recognised and promoted. The award scheme helps showcase the creativity, innovation and dedication that make a real difference to the daily lives of people living with dementia and their families. There are six categories, over 90 applicants and in this blog post we are sharing the films and details of our 6 winners. Although do take the time to have a look at all the finalists here
http://www.alzscot.org/news_and_community/news/3413_finalists_announced_for_scotlands_dementia_awards_2015 and remember the Scottish Dementia awards entries for 2016 will open, sign up to our e-newsletter to stay up-to-date.
- Best Educational Initiative
Edinburgh Dementia Training Partnership
The Edinburgh Training Partnership comprises representatives from NHS Lothian, City of
Edinburgh Council and independent sectors. Its remit, informed by the National Dementia
Strategies, is to provide good quality training primarily within care settings, which improves the experience of people with dementia, their families and carers, and the staff who support
them. Another key objective is to deliver a sustainable training programme using a train-the trainer model and linking participants with the SSSC Dementia Ambassadors Network. We use the Promoting Excellence resources as a framework, but bolster the programme by making use of a variety of additional ideas and materials which reflect best practice.
Jackie Sloan, Learning and Development Advisor, City of Edinburgh Council,
Telephone: 0131 529 6478, Email: jackie.sloan@edinburgh.gov.uk
- Best Acute Care Initiative
Knowing Me, Knowing You
Using storytelling and visual arts in this acute setting, our innovative pilot created a
welcoming and equal space. Here, skilful facilitation by the Village Storytelling Centre brought together patients and carers alongside a multi-disciplinary group of nurses, occupational therapists, Chaplain and Volunteer Services to delight in discovering each other’s stories. Around the table, we shared cake and stories and created multi-sensory art on each week’s theme. Sessions were highly responsive to individual need and population change. Held by a loose structure and adapted in the moment, each stood alone while building towards the co-creation of a personal journal.
Doreen Mall, Occupational Therapist, NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde, Telephone: 0141 211 3657, Email: doreen.mall@ggc.nhs.uk
- Best Innovation in Continuing Care
Namaste Care Team East Ward, Dykebar Hospital
Namaste means to “honour the spirit within” and is a special way of caring for patients with
advanced dementia. The programme supports the philosophy of person-centred care and
offers people with advanced dementia the opportunity to engage with others by therapeutic touch and sensory stimulation. Comfort is a large part of the process and each patient has items that are personal to them and provides pleasure, comfort and stimulates memory. Each session consists of a variety of sensory interventions with the choice being determined by the needs of the patient and informed through life story books, staff and carer’s knowledge.
Maria Banks, Senior Charge Nurse, Dykebar Hospital, Telephone: 0141 314 4060,
Email: maria.banks@ggc.scot.nhs.uk
- Best Dementia Friendly Community Initiative
Lanarkshire Mosque & Muslim Community Project
Our Motherwell Dementia Friendly Community Pilot (2012) highlighted a range of inequalities within our BME Communities. The largest group in North Lanarkshire is the Pakistani/ Muslim Community. Our Muslim community realise the challenges in reducing stigma around dementia and want to support future generations of women family carers. Collectively we acknowledge years of marginalisation of Muslims in society and wish to build trust and breakdown barriers between communities and service planners/providers. The Lanarkshire Mosque and Muslim Community project is an emerging movement for change with a strong sense of ownership, open to working in partnership with Alzheimer Scotland, Princess Royal Trust Lanarkshire Carers Centre and other multiagency partners.
Gabriela Mitas, Community Activity Organiser, Alzheimer Scotland, Telephone: 01698275300
Email: gmitas@alzscot.org
- Best Community Support Initiative
‘Fit for Life’
‘Fit for Life’ is an NHS community-based exercise group for older people living with dementia, depression or anxiety, which aims to improve balance, mobility, fitness and confidence in clients who are often socially isolated, have poor balance or who have low levels of physical functioning. Through the support of physiotherapists and volunteers, clients attend a 12 week programme of specific exercises and tai chi. Fit for Life has helped people with dementia become more physically active; re-establish a sense of personal control and provide greater involvement in the community. It can be seen as a benchmark in person-centred care and integrated working with third sector agencies.
Jackie Hodge, Physiotherapist, NHS Lothian, Telephone: 0131 537 6606
Email: jackie.hodge@nhslothian.scot.nhs.uk
- Most Innovative Partnership
Arky’s Resident Nail Bar
Since August 2013, our pupils have established and built upon links with staff and residents of Renfrew Care Home. Fortnightly visits ensure regular contact where not only residents can enjoy friendships, love and chat, but our pupils too. Life skills which cannot be taught in the classroom environment, naturally blossom through our partnership. These visits are both ways; the residents look forward to attending tea dances, singalongs, open afternoons and annual events. We have also widened our pupils’ skills through working closely with Salon Services for hand massage and nail painting which the residents thoroughly enjoy. This stimulates talk.
Laura Thomson, Primary Teacher, Arkleston Primary School, Telephone: 0781 7869598,
Email: gw09thomsonlaura7@glow.sch.uk
Life time achievement – Nancy McAdam
In addition, Nancy McAdam was recognised with the event’s Lifetime Achievement Award. In 2004, Nancy and another person with dementia became the founder members of the Inverness Dementia Memory Group – the first Highland Involvement Group of People with a diagnosis of dementia. Since 2005, Nancy has volunteered on local and national awareness-raising, campaigning and service improvement – including speaking at and taking part in conferences and volunteering for local and national media opportunities on dementia issues.
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